The Irish standard., 1887-09-17

without parallel in its freedom from
crime. But now they must not allow
themselves to be bull dozed by British
red-coats or British cOnstsbles. we DO
not know of anything that could have
raised the Irish people higher III the es'
timation Of their American friends, at
least, than the part they played so no
bly, at Mitchelltown last Friday. Let
their motto continue to be defense and
not defiance, but it must be defense
in it's broadest meaning. The mis-
erable subterfuge resorted to by the
London Times in endeavoring to re-
lieve the Tories Of blame in precipltat-
ing the Mitchelltown affray, and laying
it at the doors of the Irish people, is
worthy of its dirty source. The events
of the past two weeks have afforded
conclusive evidence that the Tories
do not intend to leave st,ne untprned
that will tend to provoke the Irish peo-
ple to resort to open rebellion. tits only
few days ago that the bailiffs at Her
bertstown, assisted by 100 soldiers and
800 constahulary, advanced upon the
house of Mrs. Crimmins, a widow.
This woman, as related, in these col
umns. and her friends had barricaded
her little home and, being we'll armed
with paving stones and boiling water,
she showered them with snch courage
and effect OH the attacking force that
it was four times repu!sed. Backed by
the British army on the spot and the
might and majesty Of the British En-
pire in reserve, the officers, after three
repeated repu!ses, attempted TO take
the heroic widows home by storm.
Again they were driven back. Finally
Joint rush WAS made by the balll1fs
and police, and the house was broken
into and captured. It was found that
the defenders Of the house numbered
only nine persons, five men and four
women. All were taken prisoners.
What spectacle is this for the contem'
plation of the civilized world! One
hundred regular soldiers, and q force
Of three hundred constabulary, soldiers
in every thing but name: making war
uuon a widow woman Here is splen-
did theme, as an exchange suggests, fer
the Poet Laureate when next he undeI-
takes to sing turgjd doggerel rhymes in
honor of the glorious era Of Evictoria !
But does it not also suggest the retiec-
ticn that when widows garrison Of
five men and four women can fight so
brayely and resist so successfully
force of four hundred troops with tue
Sheriff and his men, what could the
irish people do we're they armed and On
equal terms With their oppressors ? In
the defense Of Widow Crimnains' home
we have an instance of heroism as
noble as ever recorded, while her assail-
ants stand before the world branded
with the triple stigma Of tyranny, Ecu~
tality and cowardice- And such scenes
are being enacted daily throughout
Ireland. Let England cease to cast re.
tlections on foreign tyrantc and stop
singing the anthems Of British free
dom till they have made such barbara
ties impossible. All honor to Widow
Crirnmins and her garrison OF five men
and four women I? We hope every ten
ant in Ireland whose house is attacked
will show the same pluck and deter1nl1l-
alton. By displaying the courage OF
Widow Crimmins lrishmen can rest as
sureti that Coercion Act No, 81 will
soon be a dead letter.
The breaking up Of the Ballycoree
Hill meeting was another instance OF
the determination of the Tories to gag
the Irish people, but though they s1lc-
ceeded in breaking up the meeting,
their victory is a barren one as far as
the principle at stake is concerned.
The fact Of the meeting having for
some time come together, passed reso'
lutions, and drawn upon itself the
threat of military intervention is sufi-
clent to give effect to its object OF at
vracting public attention to the cruelty
and oppression under winch Ireland IS
groaning. The Irish leaders are to be,
congratulated on having, in good order
aud with such prudence avoided q col
lision with the military and police,
without abandoning their demonstra-
tion of protest against an expiring ty-
ranny. In consideration OF the bitter
provocation of foreign bayonets at their
throats the Irish have by their admir-
able forbeara1lce III this demonstration,
forever nailed the infamous falsehood
and insulting calumny that they are nn-
able to govern themselves.
The principle involved in the Mitch
elton trouble was somewhat different
10 the one Of Ballycoree Hill. The
police construed forbearance into cow
ardice and attempted to shoot the peo-
pie down like dogs. In the course OF
an exhaustive speech in the British
House Of Commons the other night Sir
William Vernon Harcourt explained
the situation exactly. Some Tory